Snowstorm, Day 5

***Correction on the previous post: the title said "Day 34" but it should have been "Day 4". I had started it on day 3 but finished it on day 4, and being late, I failed to proofread the title with the post. Please accept my apologies.***

So anyways, today was day five of a week of snow, and it turned out quite impressive, I admit. It started snowing around 10am, was awful by noon, and is just finally starting to ease up a little right now at 9pm. Our Joshua grunters shoveled a foot of snow off the back loading dock at 2pm, and by the time we left at 6pm there was another foot back on it. We've received about as much snow as we normally get in a winter, but it's all happened over the course of four days, which is what's so incredible. Maintenance has been doing an incredible job keeping the roads cleared, but there's just too much snow coming down to keep everything cleared. Coming home from work today, the main roads were clear, but everything else had a good 10-12" on it, which all came after lunch. With the plows running 24 hours a day, they're starting to break and keep needing to take time out for repairs.
Additionally, there's getting to be so much weight on the trees, some are falling down and some are having to be cut down for safety. Two trees fell down today that I heard about, and I watched a third come down in front of the G-store and gift shop.
I walked to work early today and took pictures, but now there's another foot of snow on everything and it's even that more impressive. I will post the webcam video from today, however, for your viewing pleasure.

Snowstorm, Day 4

Yes, I am jumping right into day 4 because days one and two were nothing short of pathetic. We got maybe an inch on day one, and then mostly rain and slush on day two. Day three (yesterday) was slightly better - we got about a foot of snow in the morning before it tapered off in the afternoon. I went down the hill yesterday, so I didn't get many pictures of up here. Today is day four. It's been snowing heavily since I got up at 9:00 this morning, and we've received close to another two feet. The forecast says it'll continue like this through Friday evening, but as you see below, the weather forecast can't always be trusted... We've been out of power and running on generators since Sunday morning, so hopefully I'll be able to keep you updated with pictures as the storm goes on. If not, I will be taking pictures and will post them as soon as power and internet is restored. Stay tuned!


The forecast according to weather.com. Apparently they haven't looked outside their window yet.


I know I left my porch steps right here! I'm positive!!!


Snow on my roof, with my hand as reference.


There are three cars in this picture. Can you find them all?


The road to laundry is wide and slippery. Watch your step.


The road to laundry is also lined with 3-foot-high banks of snow.


Maintenance hard at work! THANK YOU!!!

Just When You Thought Global Warming Was True...

Finally, after I don't know how many weeks of no snow, we're finally supposed to be getting some! And I was just about ready to break out my shorts and hiking boots...

Here's the current special weather statement for the Sierra Nevadas from Yosemite to Kings Canyon (us!), from the National Weather Service:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Hanford, CA
3:42 am PST, Fri., Jan. 15, 2010

... WET WEATHER DEVELOPING LATE SUNDAY... CONTINUING THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...

THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORMS IS DUE TO ARRIVE LATER SUNDAY OR SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD OPEN THE GATES TO A VERY WET PATTERN NEXT WEEK.

IT IS STILL TOO EARLY HOWEVER... TO SAY WHEN AND HOW MUCH EACH INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. BUT CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT A CHANGE IS IN STORE... AND SIGNIFICANT RAIN AND HIGH ELEVATION SNOW IS NOW LIKELY FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK.

SNOW LEVELS WILL RISE AND FALL WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM... BUT IN GENERAL WILL BE BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 FEET. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES OF NEW SNOW FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA... FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ARE AROUND 10 FEET.

You read that right. Possibly 10 feet of snow in a week. I'm going to go curl up under my desk now.

Christmas Peppers!

I know Christmas has passed, but these bells and onions looked so festive I couldn't help taking a picture! Anyways, here's the recipe they were for.


Joe's Special Eggs:

Diced red and green bell peppers
Diced yellow onions
Diced tomatoes
Grated cheddar and Parmesan cheese
Sliced green onions
Ground beef
Ground Italian sausage
Eggs, cracked and beaten
Heavy cream
Salt, black and white pepper, rosemary, basil, thyme, and oregano

Dice red and green bellpeppers and yellow onions. Saute in butter with a little bit of burgundy cooking wine until onions are slightly transparent, remove from pan and set aside. In same pan, cook ground beef and ground Italian sausage, seasoning with herbs, salt and black pepper. When fully cooked, remove from pan and add to vegetables.

Pour eggs into pan, mixing with heavy cream (1/2 gallon cream per 2 gallons of eggs), salt, and white pepper to taste. Scramble eggs with wire wisk until nearly done, but some liquid still remains. Add a little cheddar and Parmesan cheese, the sauteed vegetables and ground meats. Finish cooking the eggs, mixing well with a wisk.
Serve topped with cheddar, Parmesan, diced tomatoes, and green onions.

Spock Precedes Me

I found this book over Christmas at my Aunt and Uncle's house. Apparently Spock is alive and well. And writing on child care. Wonder what the chapter on emotions is like...

Random Photos - 1 of many to come

Random photos from my camera...

Well, I knew my fridge was running cold to begin with, but this has definitely gone too far... note to self: periodically check to make sure all liquids in fridge are still liquids...


Not sure why these are still around. Halloween has long passed. Maybe I should dust more often.. like at all.


Updated home studio layout. Stay tuned for further music!

Spoc(k)

Spoc(k) called me a while ago, though I never posted the picture until now. It is quite remarkable what is achievable with technology in this present day society.